Nick Perry: Ella's Top Corral

If you're craving a tasty burger—or maybe a foot-long hot dog with slaw or chili—head over to Ella's Top Corral in Valdosta, where locals have named it the "Best Burger of South Georgia" for the past several years.

In this podcast, Nick Perry, co-owner and general manager of Ella's Top Corral, shares his entrepreneurial journey from the early days when he formed the hamburger patties by hand to managing the family-owned business alongside his grandmother, Ella Mae Brown. 

Here's what you'll discover in the podcast: 

• Ella Mae Brown, known to family and friends as "Miss Ella," started working at Top Corral more than 45 years ago. In 2006, when the original owners wanted to sell, she purchased the popular restaurant and added Ella's to the name. 
• Following in his grandmother's career path, Perry started working at the restaurant before he could drive. After graduating from Valdosta State University with a degree in psychology, Perry considered other career options before deciding to go into business with his grandmother. 
• From remodeling the interior to modernizing the outdated drive-thru system, Perry has focused on upgrading the restaurant while keeping some of its nostalgic features.
• Boosting business during the pandemic, Ella's launched an app for easy ordering. In addition, they started catering "box lunches" that include a sandwich choice (hamburger, chicken, or hot dogs), fries or chips, and dessert. 
• Perry attributes the restaurant's growth—and expanded customer base—to word-of-mouth advertising, marketing, and community involvement.
• With the single burger a customer favorite, other crowd pleasers include the double or triple burgers (all hand-formed patties), country-fried steak sandwiches, foot-long hot dogs with chili or slaw, fries, onion rings, corn nuggets, and hand-spun milkshakes. 

His advice to other small business owners, "We can only take it one day at a time, and you can plan so much and do so much, but in the 24 hours we have or let's say for me in the eight to 10 working hours if you can't get all done, it's okay. 

 "It's better to focus on one thing," he said. "That's something my grandmother has done over these last 47 years. She's been at the restaurant and brought it to this point, and I see it as the grace I have to continue doing that and taking it to the next level."

Perry serves on the Valdosta-County Chamber of Commerce board and Lowndes Education Improvement Foundation and was named the chamber's 2022 Young Professional of the Year.

 Located at 1007 South Patterson Street, Valdosta, Ella's Top Corral is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, for drive-thru and online (website and app) order. Note: inside dining is currently closed. 

Download the Ella's Top Corral app on Google Play

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